Service shut off device

ABSTRACT

A service shut off device which is a selected length of a composite body adapted to be formed into a shape to fit in use around a service line. The composite body has a flexible casing ( 20 ) and a body of intumescent material ( 28 ) received in the casing. The body of intumescent material ( 28 ) may be continuous. The composite body has means ( 32 ) associated with the casing to contain the intumescent material within the casing and means ( 36 ) to retain the collar in a selected shape around the service line. Mounting brackets ( 36 ) can clip onto the body or be part of the body.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to service shut off devices and more particularlyto articles known as fire collars.

BACKGROUND

Service shut off devices or fire collars are placed around service linessuch as plastics materials pipes or cable trays where they pass througha wall or soffit so that in the event of a fire intumescent materialwithin the service shut off devices or fire collars will expand andclose off the hole through the wall or soffit to prevent the firepassing from one part of a building to another.

Service shut off devices or fire collars are generally made for a singlesize of pipe or cable tray or other service line and therefore where amajor installation is occurring and there may be a number of differentsizes and shapes of plastic pipes, cable trays or other service linesthen a large stock of service shut off devices or fire collars isnecessary.

It is the object of this invention to provide a service shut off deviceor fire collar arrangement where a large range of different size andshape stocks is not necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one form, therefore, the invention is said to reside in a serviceshut off device comprising a selected length of a composite body adaptedto be formed into a shape to fit in use around a service line, thecomposite body having a flexible casing and a body of intumescentmaterial received in the casing, the composite body further comprisingmeans associated with the casing to contain the intumescent materialwithin the casing and means to retain the collar in a selected shapearound the service line.

Preferably the body of intumescent material is continuous. The body ofintumescent material may be transversely cut or perforated at intervalsto assist with selection of the required length of the service shut offdevice.

It will be seen that by this means a selected length of a strip ofservice shut off device or fire collar material can be wrapped around acable tray, service line or a pipe or formed into selected shape to beplaced around a cable tray, service line or a pipe and retained in thatshape.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention the flexible casing may besubstantially U-shaped with the intumescent material received in thehollow of the U-shape.

Alternatively the casing may only provide a backing for the intumescentmaterial or may provide a backing and one edge.

Preferably the casing may be made from a metallic material such as sheetaluminium, stainless steel or steel and may be anodised or galvanised toprevent corrosion in an installation. The casing may comprise aperforated metal sheeting which is flexible enough to be bent into therequired shape.

Alternatively the casing may be manufactured from a composite materialsuch as a glass reinforced material or the like.

The flexibility of the casing may be provided by a plurality oftransverse lines of weakening in the casing and the intumescent materialbeing sufficiently flexible to be able to be bent around the serviceline or pipe or containing areas of weakening to enable it to be bentinto a selected shape such as a circular shape.

The means to retain the collar in the selected shape such as a circularshape may be a wire or other strap material which can be wound aroundthe collar when it is formed into the selected shape and joined to holdthe collar in that shape. Alternatively fasteners such as screws orblind rivets may be used to hold the device in the selected shape.

In one embodiment the service shut off device or fire collar may beadapted to be formed around a service line within a wall or soffit oralternatively the service shut off device or fire collar may be mountedagainst a wall or soffit.

There may be provided brackets either associated with the casing or aseparate bracket which can be fastened onto the casing to hold thecasing against a wall or soffit.

There may be tabs extending from the casing which may provide thebrackets.

There may be a plurality of co-acting connecting pieces on the bracketand the casing so that the racket is retained onto the casing.

The co-acting connecting piece between the casing and the bracket mayalso act to be a connector between the ends of the casing of thecomposite body to both retain the casing in the selected shape and to beused as a bracket. Hence the bracket both holds the selected shape ofthe fire collar and acts as a mounting bracket.

The means associated with the casing to contain the intumescent materialwithin the casing may be an adhesive. Alternatively it may include aplurality of tabs associated with the casing which extend against orinto the intumescent material.

The means to retain the collar in the selected shape may include a linkmember, the link member having a plurality of pins adapted to co-actwith apertures on the casing across a join in the casing whereby thecollar is retained in the selected shape.

The service shut off device may include a plurality of co-actingconnecting pieces on the bracket and the casing so that the bracket isretained onto the casing.

The service shut off device may be provided by a stack of more than oneservice shut off device as discussed above.

In an alternative form the invention is said to reside in a continuousstrip fire collar material including a casing and a continuous flexibleintumescent material within the casing, the strip comprising the casingand intumescent material adapted to be severed at selected intervalsalong the length of the continuous strip such that the strip can be cutoff at the selected length and the severed portion wrapped around aservice line such as a pipe or cable tray to provide a fire collar.

The casing may be sufficiently flexible to enable it to be formed intothe selected shape or the casing may be provided with transverse linesof weakening at intervals along its length so that it may be wrappedinto a selected shape of a fire collar.

The transverse points of weakening may be done by a plurality ofperforations transverse to the length of the strip, or alternatively maybe done by thinning of the material in transverse lines across the stripmaterial.

Such transverse lines of weakening may also provide the regions at whichthe strip of material can be severed to form the individual lengths forthe fire collar and also enable it to be bent around or wrapped aroundto form a selected shape for the fire collar.

The casing may include lugs formed or bent out of the plane of thecasing to extend onto or into the intumescent material within the casingto retain the intumescent material in the casing.

The casing may also include tabs extending from the casing which may bebent out to provide brackets to mount the service shut off device to awall or soffit.

In one preferred embodiment the casing may be comprised of a facesection and two side sections adapted in use to provide a substantiallyU-shaped body. The lugs bent out of the casing may be on the face of thecasing or on one of the side sections.

Alternatively the casing may only provide a backing for the intumescentmaterial or may provide a backing and one edge.

Preferably the side sections are formed from a plurality of tabsconfigured such that upon bending of the continuous strip into aselected shape such as a circular shape the tabs enable the inner sideof the strip to form a smaller radius than the outer side. The tabs mayoverlap or pass under adjacent tabs to enable the bending. One method bywhich this can be done is to provide two bend lines between the facesection and each side section with the lines separated by essentiallythe thickness of the casing material. Alternate tabs may be bent on oneline and the in between tabs bent on the other line. Alternatively abend line for each tab may be angled to the direction of elongation ofthe strip so that during bending a tab passes under the adjacent tab onone side and over the adjacent tab on its other side.

There may be further provided from one or both of the side sectionstongues extending from the side sections and which are folded over theintumescent material such that they are substantially parallel to theface. One tongue may extend from each tab on each side. Such tongues mayassist in retaining the intumescent material within the casing and toassist with crushing of a pipe when the intumescent material isexpanding in use or to assist with transfer of heat to the pipe so thatit assists with softening of the pipe.

There may be further provided brackets to mount the fire collar to awall or ceiling or soffit in use.

The brackets may be adapted to clip onto the casing so that they areattained with the casing.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention there may be provided aplurality of co-acting connecting portions on the brackets and collar sothat the bracket can be retained onto the collar. In one form theco-acting connecting arrangement may be a plurality of slots formed inthe casing with a plurality of pins on the brackets. Alternatively thepins may be provided on the casing and the slots on the brackets.

There may be further provided means to retain the continuous strip ofmaterial into a selected shape such as a circular shape. Such a meansmay be comprised of wire or other strip material adapted to be wrappedaround the casing and joined together to form the selected shape of thefire collar.

Alternatively the joining of the continuous strip into the selectedshape may be done by the brackets being mounted by the co-actingconnecting portions on both ends of the strip when wrapped in theselected shape so that the bracket acts as both the mounting bracket andretainer for the selected shape. In such an embodiment the bracket mayinclude at least two pairs of co-acting connecting catch means so thatthe casing can be gripped across the joint.

The intumescent material may be retained onto the casing by an adhesive.

It will be seen that generally from this invention by having acontinuous strip of fire collar material the strip can be broken off orsevered in a selected length and then wrapped around a service line suchas a cable tray or pipe. Hence a tradesman need only carry a continuouslength of the material onto site and the material cut off to length asrequired.

The continuous strip of the present invention may be transported in apackaging system for a continuous strip material type of the typediscussed above which is adapted to be used in a selected length, thepackaging comprising a cuboidal body adapted to contain a roll of thecontinuous strip material, the cuboidal body having two opposed sidesand two pairs of opposed edges, a slot in a first edge of the cuboidalbody through which the material may be drawn and markings on thepackaging on or adjacent the first edge to enable measurement of theselected length.

It will be seen that by use of such a packaging system a continuousstrip such as the continuous strip of fire collar material may be storedwithin the packaging and the strip drawn out just to the length requiredthen the strip broken off or severed off by other means to give thestrip of material which can be formed into the fire collar.

The packaging system may also include a drawer or other receptaclewithin the body which can hold the brackets or other means for retainingthe fire collar into a circular shape.

The packaging system may also have an axis formed into it from one faceto the other so the roll of strip material is supported while it isbeing unwound or alternatively shaping of packing within the packagingmay assist to retain the roll of strip material in a substantially woundform.

There may be slot in one of the faces so that a user may view the stripwithin the casing to see what length of the strip is still remaining.

In a further form the invention may be said to reside in an intumescentmaterial for a service shut off device, the intumescent materialincluding a plurality of voids such that a strip of the material can beformed into substantially circular shape with the material beingcompressed and absorbing the compression by means of the voids to allowfor an inner circumference which is smaller than an outer circumference.

Preferably the intumescent material has a backing material which is anon woven fibrous material and the non woven fibrous material is severedtransversely at intervals to provide lines of weakening for cutting ofthe strip to a required length.

In a further form the invention may be said to reside in a service shutoff device comprising a stack of two or more fire collars.

By this arrangement there can be obtained a faster shut off or a morepowerful shut off of a service line such as a pipe.

This then generally describes the invention but to assist withunderstanding, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawingswhich show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a packaging arrangement for a continuous strip of firecollar material,

FIG. 2 shows a fire collar formed into a circular shape using thecontinuous strip of the present invention,

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a strip of casing materialaccording to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a portion of a continuous strip of fire collar material,

FIG. 5 shows the other side of the continuous strip shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 shows one view of a bracket for a collar according to thisinvention,

FIG. 7 shows a further view of the bracket shown in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of fire collar according to this inventionutilising two fire collars for larger diameter pipes,

FIG. 9 shows a similar embodiment as that in FIG. 8 utilising two firecollars for larger diameter pipes but with a different method ofretaining the collars,

FIG. 10 shows a similar embodiment as that in FIG. 8 utilising two firecollars for larger diameter pipes but with a different method ofretaining the collars,

FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of a service shut off device suitablefor cable trays,

FIG. 12 shows a still further embodiment of a service shut off devicesuitable for cable trays,

FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of continuous strip adapted to form aservice shut off device such as a fire collar for smaller diameterpipes,

FIG. 14 shows a service shut off device such as a fire collar forsmaller diameter pipes formed from the strip of FIG. 13,

FIG. 15 shows a stacked arrangement of two service shut off devices ofFIG. 14,

FIG. 16 shows an alternative embodiment of a service shut off deviceaccording to the present invention,

FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of a bracket suitable for use with the firecollar shown in FIG. 16,

FIG. 18 shows an alternative embodiment of bracket suitable for use withthe fire collar shown in FIG. 16,

FIG. 19 shows an alternative embodiment of fire collar according to thepresent invention,

FIG. 20 shows a bracket suitable for the fire collar of FIG. 19,

FIG. 21 shows an alternative view of the bracket shown in FIG. 20,

FIG. 22 shows a portion of a continuous strip of fire collar materialsuitable for forming the fire collar shown in FIG. 16, and

FIG. 23 shows an alternative embodiment of the continuous strip serviceshut off device material suitable to manufacture the fire collar shownin FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A service shut off device comprising a selected length of a compositebody adapted to be formed into a shape to fit in use around a serviceline, the composite body having a flexible casing and a continuous bodyof intumescent material received in the casing, the composite bodyfurther comprising means associated with the casing to contain theintumescent material within the casing and means to retain the collar ina selected shape around the service line.

A service shut off device comprising a selected length of a compositebody adapted to be formed into a shape to fit in use around a serviceline, the composite body having a flexible casing and a continuous bodyof intumescent material received in the casing, the composite bodyfurther comprising means associated with the casing to contain theintumescent material within the casing and means to retain the collar ina selected shape around the service line.

A service shut off device comprising a selected length of a compositebody adapted to be formed into a shape to fit in use around a serviceline, the composite body having a flexible casing and a continuous bodyof intumescent material received in the casing, the composite bodyfurther comprising means associated with the casing to contain theintumescent material within the casing and means to retain the collar ina selected shape around the service line.

Now looking at the drawings in more detail, it will be seen in FIG. 1that the packaging for a continuous strip of fire collar materialcomprises a generally cuboidal box which may be preferably made out ofcardboard which has a face 1 and edges 2, 3, 4 and 5. Within the boxthere is a spiral coil of intumescent fire collar material which has anend 6 extending out of a slot 7 in the face 5. Markings 8 on the face 1adjacent the edge 5 show the length of material drawn out of the slot sothat a cutting point is known.

A slot 10 in the face 1 enables a user to see the strip material withinthe casing so that the amount remaining can be checked.

A drawer 11 is provided in the face 2. The drawer can retain bracketsand mounting nails, screws or bolts for the fire collar. The drawer maybe positioned with its opening upwards or to one side depending upon theintended orientation of the packaging in use.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show an embodiment of a continuous strip of material and afire collar made from the strip according to this invention.

The fire collar in use generally comprises an elongated strip ofmaterial formed into a circular shape and retained in that shape.

The fire collar comprises a casing 20 which in its unformed shape can beseen in FIG. 3. As can be seen in particularly FIGS. 4 and 5 the casingis of a substantially U-shape having a face 21 and two edges 22 and 24.The edges are cut at intervals as can best be seen in FIG. 3 so that thecollar can be rolled into a circular shape. Tabs 26 extend from eachportion of the segmented edges which in use fold over the intumescentmaterial 28 within the casing 20.

In the segmented edge 22 there are formed on alternative segmentsapertures 30 and pairs of U-shaped lugs 32.

The U-shaped lugs 32 are folded inwards to cut into the intumescentmaterial to retain it in place within casing.

In use the edge 22 is mounted against a wall or socket and the apertures30 and, apertures formed by the lugs 32 being bent inwards allow acertain amount of intumescent material to flow against the wall orsocket to provide a seal at the base of the collar.

On the outer side of the casing 20 are two lines of slots 34 these slotsco-act with pins on brackets 36 to hold the brackets to the casing andto join the strip of collar material into a circular shape.

As can be best seen in the strip blank shown in FIG. 3 there are twolines of bend lines on each side of the strip. A first line of bendlines 31 is used for the tabs 33 and a second set of lines 29 is usedfor the tabs 35. By this arrangement after the formation of thecontinuous strip then during the bending of the strip into the circularshape of whatever diameter the ends of the tabs 35 with the widerportion away from the face 21 will be lower than the tabs 33 and passunder the tabs 33.

The brackets can be seen in more detail in FIGS. 6 and 7.

On each bracket there is a portion 40 including an aperture 42 so thatthe bracket be mounted to a wall or socket and an upstanding body part44 and an upper tongue 46. Pins 48 are bent out of the upstandingportion 44 and bend inwardly and in use are received in the slots 34 inthe casing to mount the bracket to the casing.

As discussed earlier the pins 48 may also act to hold the collar intothe circular shape by being received in slots 34 on either side of ajoin.

Pairs of slots may be provided on each segment of the casing so thatdifferences in required diameter can be taken up.

Lines of transverse weakening 25 may be provided at intervals along thelength of the casing so that casing may be cut or otherwise severed suchas by breaking at the selected points.

Also lines of weakening 27 may be provided within the intumescentmaterial to enable it to be broken off at the selected length.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of fire collar according to this inventionwhich utilises two continuous strips according to this invention andformed into circular portions to go around pipes of a larger diameter.Pipe 50 may be of a diameter greater than 100 mm and has a first strip52 and a second strip 54 wound around it and stacked one on top theother. Double length brackets 56 with retaining pins 58 which extendinto recesses 60 in both collars may be provided to ensure that the firecollar is retained in position. Alternatively there may be pins 58 onlyin the upper portion of the bracket that extend into the upper collar 54so that only the upper collar is specifically retained.

FIG. 9 shows a similar embodiment to that shown in FIG. 8 but in thiscase the mounting of the second collar is different In this embodimentthe first collar 54 is formed into the selected shape and the brackets56 used to hold the collar in that shape. A second collar 61 is thenformed and held in its shape by the brackets 62 which have retainingpins 64 in a similar manner to the bracket 56. The bracket 62 has anextension 66 which passes over the bracket 56 and is fastened to thebracket 56 by a fastener such as a blind rivet 68.

FIG. 10 shows a similar embodiment to that shown in FIG. 8 but in thiscase the mounting of the second collar is again different. In thisembodiment the first collar 54 is formed into the selected shape and thebrackets 56 used to hold the collar in that shape. A second collar 61 isthen formed and held in its shape by the brackets 70 which haveretaining pins 72 in a similar manner to the bracket 56. The bracket 70has an extension 74 which also has retaining pins 76 and the extension74 of the bracket 70 passes over the first collar 54 not in the regionof the bracket 56 so that its pins 76 can be received in the recesses 60to hold the two collars together.

It may be noted that the invention is not restricted to the use of onefire collar or two stacked together but also includes multiple stackingof service shut off devices.

FIG. 11 shows a cable tray 80 passing through a wall 81. Above and belowthe cable tray are strips of service shut off device according to thisinvention 82 and 84 which are held together by brackets 86 at each end.

FIG. 12 shows a cable tray 90 passing through a wall 91. In thisembodiment a service shut off device according to this invention 92 hasbeen formed into an oblong shape with rounded ends around the cable tray90. Brackets 93 are used to hold the service shut off device 92 againstthe wall 91.

FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of continuous strip adapted to form aservice shut off device such as a fire collar for smaller diameterpipes.

The continuous strip 100 is formed from a strip of perforated metal 101with a strip of intumescent material 102 attached to one side by anadhesive. The strip 101 has tabs 103 extending laterally at intervals.In use the strip can be cut off at a selected length and the intumescentmaterial 102 cut back to allow the metal strip to overlap so that it canbe fastened in a selected shape such as circular as shown in FIG. 14 bythe use of fasteners 105 such as blind rivets or screws.

Once the service shut off device has beer formed in to the selectedshape the tabs 103 may be bent out to form brackets 104 to enable theservice shut off device to be mounted around a pipe and to a surface.

Where a faster shut off or a more powerful shut off of a service line isrequired two of the service shut off devices as shown in FIG. 14 may bestacked together as shown in FIG. 15. In this embodiment the tabs 103 onthe upper service shut off device 107 have been bent down to enable theupper service shut off device 107 to be fastened to the lower serviceshut off device 108 by the use of fasteners 109 such as blind rivets orscrews. The tabs 103 on the lower service shut off device 108 have beenbent out to form brackets 104 to enable the stacked service shut offdevice to be mounted to a surface.

FIGS. 16, 17, 19 and 22 show an alternative embodiment of continuousstrip surface shut off device according to this invention, a serviceshut off device from using the continuous strip and a bracket suitablefor holding the service shut off device. The continuous strip comprisesintumescent material 120 fastened to a metal backing 121 by means of anadhesive. The backing 121 has transverse lines of perforation 122 atregular intervals. The continuous strip of service shut off devicematerial can be cut off at a selected length by cutting through theintumescent material adjacent a transverse line of weakening 122 andthen the backing 121 bent along a transverse line of weakening to breakoff the required length. The selected length of material can then beformed into a circular shape as shown in FIG. 16.

The backing 121 has between each line of weakening 122 a pair of raisedportions 123 defining a slot 124 underneath it. Alternative portionsbetween the transverse lines of weakening have side flaps 125 whichextend at least partially over the side of the intumescent material 120.

The circle of intumescent material formed as shown in FIG. 16 can bejoined across the join 127 by means of the bracket shown in FIG. 17. Thebracket 130 is fastened to the circle of fire collar strip so that thepins 131 extend into respective slots 124 across the join to provide amounting bracket and to hold the strip in place. The bracket 130includes a foot 133 with an aperture 134 so that the formed fire collarcan be mounted to a surface.

Where a join in the continuous length of fire collar material is notnecessary the bracket shown in FIG. 18 may be used. This bracket 140 hastwo pins 141 spaced apart and adapted in use to extend into respectiveslots 124 in the continuous strip material.

It will be noted that the continuous strip material shown in FIG. 22 canbe used either way up as the slots are continuous under the raisedportions 123.

FIGS. 19, 20, 21 and 23 show a still further embodiment of continuousstrip materal, a fire collar made from the continuous strip material andbrackets to hold the fire collar.

The continuous strip material as shown in FIG. 23 includes anintumescent material 150 with a metal backing 151 which has transverselines of perforations 152 at regular intervals along its length. Thecontinuous strip may be bent to form a required shape around a serviceline with bending occurring at the transverse lines of perforations 152and the transverse lines of perforation also provide a region by whichthe strip material may be cut to a required length.

The continuous strip of material has a single row of raised portions 154defining slots 155 underneath them. One raised portion is provided oneach segment between transverse perforated lines 152.

As seen in FIG. 19 a selected length of continuous material has been cutto fit around a cylindrical pipe and joined by fastening a bracket 160across the join 161. Each bracket 160 has an upright portion 162 a foot163 extending out from the upright portion and having an aperture 164and an upper flange 165. On the upright portion 162 there are a pair ofpins 166. The pins are dimensioned and positioned to fit into adjacentslots 155. These adjacent slots 155 can be across a join such as thejoin 161 or adjacent slots at other portions around the periphery of theformed fire collar shown in FIG. 19.

Any required number of brackets 160 may be used depending upon the sizeof the collar.

The intumescent material used with the various embodiments of serviceshut off device of the present invention may be of any convenientformulation which produces a material which has sufficient flexibilityto be wound around into the circular shape as required. It will be notedthat the intumescent material in the flat strip is the same length asthe casing but when the strip is formed into a circular service shut offdevice it must be shorter particularly on the inner edge.

In one form the intumescent material 28 as shown in FIG. 4 may include aplurality of voids to make the material slightly spongy so that it canbe easily bent and easily reduce in length for the lesser internaldiameter when formed into the circular shape. The intumescent materialmay have a backing material which is a non woven fibrous material tohelp it retain its strip form with the non woven fibrous materialsevered at intervals to provide lines of weakening for cutting of thenew strip of casing and intumescent material to a required length.

Throughout this specification and the claims that follow unless thecontext requires otherwise, the words ‘comprise’ and ‘include’ andvariations such as ‘comprising’ and ‘including’ will be understood toimply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not theexclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

What is claimed is:
 1. A service shut off device comprising a continuousstrip of fire collar material including a flexible casing, a continuousflexible intumescent material within the casing and a retentionarrangement to retain the intumescent material within the casing, thestrip comprising the casing and intumescent material adapted to besevered at a selected length along the length of the continuous stripwhereby the strip can be severed at the selected length and the severedportion wrapped around a service line such as a pipe or cable tray toprovide a fire collar, wherein the casing has transverse lines ofweakening at regular positions along the length of the casing and thetransverse lines of weakening are provided by a plurality of lines ofperforations transverse to the length of the strip.
 2. The service shutoff device comprising a selected length of a continuous strip of firecollar material as claimed in claim 1 adapted to be formed into a shapeto fit in use around a service line, the continuous strip of fire collarmaterial including a flexible casing and a continuous flexibleintumescent material within the casing, the strip comprising the casingand intumescent material adapted to be severed at a selected lengthalong the length of the continuous strip whereby the strip can besevered at the selected length and the severed portion wrapped around aservice line such as a pipe or cable tray to provide a fire collar, theservice shut off device further comprising a retention arrangementassociated with the casing to contain the intumescent material withinthe casing and means to retain the collar in a selected shape around theservice line.
 3. The service shut off device as in claim 2 wherein theflexible casing is substantially U-shaped with the intumescent materialreceived in the hollow of the U-shape.
 4. The service shut off device asin claim 2 wherein the flexible casing provides a backing for theintumescent material, provides a backing and one edge or provides abacking and two edges.
 5. The service shut off device as in claim 2wherein the flexible casing is made from a metallic material such assheet aluminum, stainless steel or steel and is anodised or galvanisedto prevent corrosion in an installation.
 6. The service shut off deviceas in claim 2 wherein the flexible casing is a perforated sheet metal.7. The service shut off device as in claim 2 wherein the flexible casingis manufactured from a composite material such as a glass reinforcedmaterial or the like.
 8. The service shut off device as in claim 2wherein the means to retain the collar in the selected shape such as acircular shape is a wire or other strap material which can be woundaround the collar when it is formed into the selected shape and joinedto hold the collar in that selected shape.
 9. The service shut offdevice as in claim 2 wherein the retention arrangement is an adhesive.10. The service shut off device as in claim 2 wherein the retentionarrangement includes a plurality of tabs associated with the casingwhich extend against or into the intumescent material.
 11. The serviceshut off device as in claim 2 wherein the body of intumescent materialis transversely cut or perforated at intervals to assist with selectionof the required length of the service shut off device.
 12. The serviceshut off device as in claim 2 wherein the means to retain the collar inthe selected shape includes a link member, the link member having aplurality of pins adapted to co-act with apertures on the casing acrossa join in the casing whereby the collar is retained in the selectedshape.
 13. The service shut off device as in claim 2 wherein the serviceshut off device is adapted to be formed around a service line within awall or soffit.
 14. The service shut off device as in claim 2 whereinthe service shut off device is adapted to be mounted against a wall orsoffit.
 15. The service shut off device as in claim 2 further includingat least one bracket either associated with the casing or being aseparate bracket which can be fastened onto the casing to hold theservice shut off device against a wall or soffit.
 16. The service shutoff device as in claim 15 including a plurality of co-acting connectingpieces on the bracket and the casing so that the bracket is retained onthe casing.
 17. The service shut off device as in claim 16 wherein theco-acting connecting piece between the casing and the bracket also actsas a connector between the ends of the casing of the composite body toboth retain the casing in the selected shape and to be used as abracket.
 18. The continuous strip fire collar material as in claim 1wherein the transverse lines of weakening also provide the regions atwhich the strip of material can be severed to form the individuallengths for the fire collar and also enable it to be bent around orwrapped around to form a selected shape for the fire collar.
 19. Thecontinuous strip fire collar material as in claim 1 wherein the body ofintumescent material is transversely cut or perforated at intervals toassist with selection of the required length of the continuous strip offire collar material.
 20. The continuous strip fire collar material asin claim 1 wherein the retention arrangement to contain the intumescentmaterial within the casing is an adhesive.
 21. The continuous strip firecollar material as in claim 1 wherein the retention arrangement tocontain the intumescent material within the casing includes lugs formedin the casing or bent out of the plane of the casing to extend againstor into the intumescent material.
 22. The continuous strip fire collarmaterial as in claim 1 wherein the casing is comprised of a face sectionand two side sections adapted in use to provide a substantially U-shapedbody and lugs bent out of the casing to extend against or into theintumescent material within the casing to retain the intumescentmaterial in the casing are provided on the face of the casing or on oneof the side sections.
 23. The continuous strip fire collar material asin claim 1 wherein the flocible casing is a perforated sheet metal. 24.The continuous strip fire collar material as in claim 1 wherein thecasing is comprised of a backing for the intumescent material or abacking and one edge.
 25. The continuous strip fire collar material asin claim 1 wherein the casing is comprised of a face section and twoside sections, wherein the side sections are formed from a plurality oftabs configured such that upon bending of the continuous strip into aselected shape such as a circular shape the tabs enable the inner sideof the strip to form a smaller radius than the outer side and the tabsoverlap or pass under adjacent tabs to enable the bending.
 26. Thecontinuous strip fire collar material as in claim 25 including on thecasing two bend lines between the face section and each side sectionwith the lines separated by essentially the thickness of the casingmaterial and alternate tabs bent on one of the lines and the in betweentabs bent on the other of the lines.
 27. The continuous strip firecollar material as in claim 25 including a bend line for each tab of theplurality of tabs angled to the direction of elongation of the strip sothat during bending each tab passes under the adjacent tab on one sideand over the adjacent tab on the other side.
 28. The continuous stripfire collar material as in claim 25 further including from one or bothof the side sections tongues extending from the side sections and whichare folded over the intumescent material such that they aresubstantially parallel to the face of the casing, with one rtongueextending from each tab on each side.
 29. The continuous strip firecollar material as in as in claim 1 further including brackets to mountthe fire collar to a wall or ceiling or soffit in use.
 30. Thecontinuous strip fire collar material as in claim 29 wherein thebrackets are adapted to clip onto the casing so that they are retainedwith the casing.
 31. The continuous strip fire collar material as inclaim 29 including a plurality of co-acting connecting portions on thebrackets and collar so that the bracket can be retained onto thecontinuous strip.
 32. The continuous strip fire collar material as inclaim 31 wherein the co-acting connecting arrangement includes aplurality of slots formed in the casing with a plurality of pins on thebrackets or alternatively the pins are provided on the casing and theslots on the brackets.
 33. The continuous strip fire collar material asin claim 1 further including means to retain the continuous strip ofmaterial into a selected shape such as a circular shape.
 34. Thecontinuous strip fire collar material as in claim 33 wherein the meansto retain the continuous strip of material comprises wire or other stripmaterial adapted to be wrapped around the casing and joined together toform the selected shape of the fire collar.
 35. The continuous stripfire collar material as in claim 33 wherein the means to retain thecontinuous strip of material comprises co-acting connecting portions onboth ends of the strip when wrapped in the selected shape and on abracket so that the bracket act as both the mounting bracket andretainer for the selected shape.
 36. The service shut off device formedfrom the continuous strip fire collar material as defined in claim 1.37. The service shut off device comprising a stack of two or more firecollars formed from the continuous strip fire collar material as definedin claim 1.